The Governing Council of the Federal University Wukari has approved the appointment of Professor Benjamin Kefas as the new substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution. The council also named Dr Temboge Andrew as the new University Librarian.
The decision was taken at a meeting held on Monday at the Secretariat of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Acting Director of Information and Protocol, Mrs Agya Ashu, said the approvals followed the completion of the five year tenure of the former Vice Chancellor, Professor Jude Sammani Rabo, and the former Librarian, Dr Isa Sidi Attahir.
She added that the handover ceremony for the new Vice Chancellor will take place on Tuesday at the same venue.
The appointment of Professor Kefas, who is the biological brother of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, has generated public reactions and led to petitions to the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission by some residents of southern Taraba.
The petitioners expressed concern over possible external influence in the selection process.
However, officials at the Secretariat of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities dismissed the allegations and stated that the exercise was conducted openly and fairly.
Information obtained shows that more than 30 candidates applied for the Vice Chancellor position, out of which four were shortlisted for the final interview. Two candidates also applied for the Librarian role.
All four shortlisted candidates for the Vice Chancellor post were from southern Taraba.
Interviews for both offices were conducted on Monday, after which the committee approved Professor Kefas as Vice Chancellor and Dr Andrew as Librarian.
The appointments are expected to take effect immediately, in line with university regulations.
